Coiling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A coiling apparatus, especially for forming plastic filaments into coils for use in slide fasteners in which a rotor having a guide passage parallel to and radially displaced from the axis of the rotor coils a filament passing through the guide passage onto a mandrel which is supported in and extends axially through the rotor and in which means engaging the mandrel are provided which prevent rotation of the mandrel during turning of the rotor about its axis without obstructing coiling of the filament about the mandrel.

United States Patent {72] Inventor Walter 0. Galonska Great Neck, N.Y. [211 App]. No. 793,363 [22] Filed Jan. 23, 1969 [45] Patented Mar. 23, 1971 [7 3] Assignee Henry Rogers New York, N.Y.

[54] COlLING APPARATUS 15 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.'S.C1 57/1, 18/1, 57/34 [51] Int. Cl B29d 5/00 [50] Field of Search 57/1, 34, 34 (HS); 18/1 5 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,343,348 3/1944 Wahl 57/1-UX 2,541,728 2/1951 Wahl 57/1-UX 2,541,729 2/1951 Wahl 57/l-UX 2,907,066 10/1959 Wahl 57/l-UX 2,817,206 12/1957 Schwartz.... 57/1 3,145,523 8/1964 Burbank I: 57/1 Primary Examiner-John Petrakes Attorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A coiling apparatus, especially for forming plastic filaments into coils for use in slide fasteners in which a rotor having a guide passage parallel to and radially displaced from the axis of the rotor coils a filament passing through the guide passage onto a mandrel which is supported in and extends axially through the rotor and in which means engaging the mandrel are provided which prevent rotation of the mandrel during turning of the rotor about its axis without obstructing coiling of the filament about the mandrel.

PATNTEUHAR2319II 3572023 INVENTOR Warm 0- 6440mm BY ATTORNEY PATENTEDHARZB I971 3,572,023

sum 2 0&2

INVENTOR I (Mm-w 0.6M, 0014.

ATTORNEY COILING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Coiling apparatus, especially for forming filaments, preferably plastic filaments, into coils for use as interlocking stringers on slide fasteners are known in the art.

Known coiling apparatus of this type are, however, rather complicated in their construction and the output derivable from the known coiling apparatus is relatively small.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for a coiling apparatus of the aforementioned type which avoids the disadvantages of coiling apparatus known in the art.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide for a coiling apparatus of the aforementioned type which is composed of relatively few and relatively simple parts so that the coiling apparatus may be manufactured at reasonable cost and will stand up properly under extended use.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide for a coiling apparatus of the aforementioned type which is not only simple in construction, but which can also be operated at hig speed so as to produce a great output.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With these objects in view, the coiling apparatus according to the present invention, especially for forming filaments into coils for the production of interlocking stringers in slide fasteners, mainly comprises support means, a hollow rotor supported on the support means rotatable about-its axis and being formed in the peripheral wall thereof with at least one guide channel therethrough extending substantially parallel to and radially displaced from the axis of the rotor for guiding a filament in longitudinal direction therethrough, drive means cooperating with the rotor for rotating the same about its axis, mandrel means extending along the axis through and with opposite end portions thereof beyond opposite ends of the rotor and supported in the latter so that rotor and mandrel means may turn relative to each other about the rotor axis, means for guiding and feeding a filament over the peripheral surface of one of the end portions of the mandrel through the guide channel of the rotor into engagement with the other end portion of the mandrel so that the filament will be formed into a coil on the other end portion during rotation of the rotor, and mechanical arresting means engaging the one end portion of the mandrel for maintaining the latter stationarily during rotation of the rotor while permitting said filament to sweep over the peripheral surface of the one end portion of the mandrel.

The one end portion of the mandrel is formed with a cutout extending from the peripheral surface of the end portion into the same and the arresting means preferably comprise a star wheel rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the rotor axis and having a plurality of substantially radially extending teeth, the outer ends of which move along a circular path having its center at the axis of the star wheel and the cutout is defined by a surface portion coinciding with the path so that the teeth of the star wheel will engage with the outer ends thereof the surface portion of the cutout to thus prevent the mandrel from rotation about its axis. The maximum depth of the cutout is smaller than the whole depth of the teeth of the star wheel, and the latter is rotated at a speed correlated to the speed of the rotor and in a direction. opposite to the direction at which the rotor is rotated so that the teeth of the star wheel will not obstruct sweeping of a portion of the filament over the mandrel surface in the region of the star wheel.

In addition to the star wheel which cooperates with the cutout in the mandrel to preventr'otation of the latter during rotation of the rotor, auxiliary arresting means may also be provided which may include a magnetizable mandrel portion extending transverse through the one end thereof and cooperating poles of an electromagnet respectively arranged closely adjacent to opposite ends of the magnetizable transversely extending mandrel portion so that the electromagnetic field thus produced between the opposite poles of the electromagnet and the transversely extending magnetizable portion of the mandrel will also tend to keep the mandrel in stationary position, thereby reducing the friction between the ends of the teeth of the star wheel and the surface of the cutout engaged thereby.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read'in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section through the coiling apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross section taken along the line "-11 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along the line lI-II of FIG. 1 and showing a modification of the apparatus in which magnet means are used in addition to the star wheel for maintaining the mandrel in stationary position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, and especially to FIG. I of the same, it will be seen that the coiling apparatus of the present invention mainly comprises support means 2 in form of a housing composed of a plurality'of parts connected to each other in any convenient manner and supporting the movable elements of the coiling apparatus. A substantially cylindrical hollow rotor 4 is supported in the housing turnably about its axis by means of a pair of ball bearings 6 arranged between the inner surface of the housing and opposite ends of the rotor. A gear'8 is connected to the outer surface of the rotor 4 between the ball bearings 6, by being for instance integrally formed with the rotor. The teeth of the gear 8 mesh with the teeth of a gear 10 fixedly mounted on a shaft 12 for rotation therewith and the shaft 12 extends parallel to the axis of the rotor 4 and is turnably mounted in appropriate bearing portions of the housing 2. The gear 10 is driven by a gear 13, only partially shown in FIG. I, which in turn is driven by a drive motor, not shown in the drawing. The peripheral wall of the rotor 4 is formed with at least one, or a plurality of guide passages 14 in form of bores therethrough which extend substantially parallel to the axis of the rotor, radially outwardly displaced therefrom. The opposite ends of the bores 14 are preferably substantially conically enlarged in outward direction to facilitate threading of a filament F therethrough. Mandrel meansl6 extend coaxially with and through the hollow rotor 4 and with opposite end portions beyond opposite ends of the latter. The mandrel means 16 comprise a shaft 18 mounted in the interior of the hollow rotor by a pair of ball bearings 28 so that the mandrel means 16 are supported by the rotor 4 while the latter may turn relative to the mandrel means. The mandrel means include further a cylindrical portion 20 of larger diameter than the shaft portion 18 and located outside of the rotor beyond the left end, as viewed in FIG. 1, of the latter. The portion 20 is formed intermediate its ends with a cutout 26 which extends from the peripheral surface of the portion 20 into the latter for a purpose which will be described later on. The mandrel means 16 include further on the right side of the shaft portion 18, as viewed in FIG. I, a substantially conical portion 22 located outside of the rotor and having its large diameter end adjacent the rotor. A thrust bearing 30 located between the large diameter of the conical portion 22 and an appropriate shoulder of the rotor 4 prevents axial shifting of the mandrel means relative to the rotor. A rod-shaped elongated mandrel portion 24 projects towards the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, in axial direction from the conical portion 22 of the mandrel means.

A star wheel 32 is mounted on a shaft 33 extending substantially parallel to the axis of the rotor and rotatably supported in an appropriate bearing portion of the housing. The star wheel 32 is located above the cutout 26 in the large diameter portion of the mandrel means and the outer ends of the teeth 34 of the star wheel will move during rotation of the latter along a circular path, and the cutout 26 is defined by an arcuate surface portion extending along the aforementioned path so that the outer ends of the teeth 34 of the star wheel will engage this surface portion of the cutout to thereby prevent rotation of the mandrel means 16 with the rotor 4. As can be seen best from FIG. 2, the whole depth of the teeth 34 of the star wheel is greater than the maximum depth of the eutout 26 so that a filament F may pass between the cylindrical surface of the enlarged diameter portion 20 and the root circle of the star wheel 32 without being squeezed in radial direction. The star wheel 32 is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of the rotor 4 by means of a pulley 38 fixed to the shaft 33 and a toothed belt 42 wound about the pulley 38, a pulley 36 mounted on the shaft 12 for rotation therewith and an idler pulley 40, shown only in FIG. 2 and not indicated in FIG. I, which is likewiseturnably mounted in any convenient manner in the housing 2.

A ball bearing 44 having an outer diameter substantially equal or slightly larger than the diameter of the enlarged mandrel portion 20 is turnably mounted on an axial extension 43 projecting towards the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, from the mandrel portion 20, and a guide member 46 provided with a guide bore 47 is mounted to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1, in stationary position for guiding a filament F through the guide bore 47 from a filament supply spool, not shown in the drawing, onto the peripheral surface of the ball bearing 44, from where the filament passes over the peripheral surface of the enlarged mandrel portion 20 through the bore 14 of the rotor 4, over the surface of the conical mandrel portion 22 onto the elongated mandrel portion 24. A curved finger 48 fixedly connected in a convenient manner to the right end, as viewed in FIG. 1, of the rotor 4 engages a portion of the filament F in the region of the conical mandrel portion 22. This conical mandrel portion may be formed in the region of the bottom end of the curved finger 48 with a peripheral groove 50.

A sleeve 52 extends with clearance downstream of the conical portion 22 of the mandrel means around the elongated portion 24 of the latter and a conduit 54 communicating with the interior of the sleeve 52 serves to feed hot air from a source of hot air, not shown in the drawing, about part of the mandrel portion 24. Withdrawing rollers 56 and 58 turnable in opposite direction about axes extending substantially normal to the axis of the mandrel means 16 are arranged downstream of the sleeve 54 to engage and draw a filament coil C wound about the mandrel portion 24 in longitudinal direction. The specific construction of the rollers 56 and 58 and their action on the filament coil C does not form part of the present invention and therefore these rollers are only schematically shown in the drawing.

The above-described coiling apparatus will operate as follows:

A filament F, preferably a plastic filament, for instance Nylon, is threaded through the bore 47 of the guide member 46 over the peripheral surface of the ball bearing 44 and over the peripheral surface of the enlarged mandrel portion 20, through one of the guide passages or bores 14 of the rotor 4, over the surface of the conical portion 22 of the mandrel means into engagement with the elongated portion 24 of the latter. The rotor 4 is then rotated at high speed about its axis so that the filament F is wound in a coil C about the elongated mandrel portion 24 and withdrawn in longitudinal direction of the latter by the rollers 56 and 58. During this withdrawal, the filament is heated by the hot air passing through the sleeve 52 to facilitate subsequent deforming of the coiled filament in a manner not forming part of the present invention.

During rotation of the rotor 4 a portion of the filament F will also sweep over the peripheral surface of the enlarged portion 20 of the mandrel means and the filament portion sweeping over the peripheral surface of the portions 20, 22 of the mandrel means will tend to drag the mandrel means along and rotate the same in the direction of rotation of the rotor. Such rotation of the mandrel means 16 is however prevented by the engagement of the outer ends of the teeth 34 with the arcuate surface of the cutout 26. Since the star wheel 32 is rotated with appropriate speed determined by the diameter of the pulleys 36 and 38 in opposite direction and in synchronism with the rotation of the mandrel 4, the filament F is not prevented from sweeping over the peripheral surface of the mandrel portion 20 and the star wheel will form an escape mechanism permitting the filament portion guided over the peripheral surface of the mandrel portion 20 to enter in an appropriate space between successive teeth of the star wheel and to move in circumferential direction about the surface of the mandrel portion 20 during rotation of the star wheel.

In accordance with a further development of the present invention, auxiliary arresting means may also be provided cooperating with the arresting means constituted by the star wheel 32 and the cooperating arcuates surface portion of the cutout 26 to reduce the pressure of the arcuate surface portion on the ends of the teeth of the star wheel and to thus reduce the wear on the star wheel teeth.

This auxiliary arresting means is shown in FIG. 3 and it comprises a portion 60 of magnetizable material extending transversely to the axis of the mandrel means 16 and being sandwiched between and fixedly connected in any convenient manner to outer portions 62 in the enlarged mandrel portion 20' in which the cutout 26 cooperating with the star wheel 32 is formed, and an electromagnet 64 having a pair of poles of opposite polarity 66 arranged closely adjacent to opposite ends of the transverse magnetizable portion 60 and being magnetized by the coil 68 of the electromagnet which is connected to a source of electrical energy, not shown in the drawing. The magnetic field created during energizing of the electromagnet 64 between the poles 66 thereof and the magnetizable central transverse portion 60 of the mandrel means will tend to maintain the latter in the position shown as FIG. 3, that is the magnetic field will tend to prevent the mandrel means 16 to rotate about its axis during rotation of the rotor 4. Evidently, the stabilizing force created by the cooperation of the electromagnet 64 with the magnetizable portion 60 of the mandrel means will cooperate with the arresting means constituted by the star wheel 32 and the arcuate surface portion of the cutout 26 to reduce the pressure exerted by the arcuate surface portion on the ends of the teeth of the star wheel and thus reduce wear of the latter. Experiments carried out to maintain the mandrel means in stationary position during rotation of the rotor only by the magnetic field produced by the electromagnet have not been successful, since the magnetic field producible by a mandrel of relatively small radial dimension and an electromagnet of reasonable size was insufficient for maintaining the mandrel in stationary position.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of coiling apparatus differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a coiling apparatus for forming a filament into a coil for use in the production of interlocking stringers in slide fasteners, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Iclaim:

l. Coiling apparatus, especially for forming filaments into coils for the production of interlocking stringers in slide fasteners, said coiling apparatus comprising support means; a hollow rotor supported by said support means rotatable about its axis, said rotor being formed in the peripheral wall thereof with at least one guide channel therethrough extending substantially parallel to said axis radially displaced therefrom for guiding a filament in longitudinal direction therethrough; drive means cooperating with said rotor for rotating the same about its axis; mandrel means extending along said axis through and with opposite end portions thereof beyond opposite ends of said rotor, said mandrel means being supported in said rotor so that the latter and said mandrel means may turn relative to each other about said axis; means for guiding and feeding a filament over the peripheral surface of one of said end portions of said mandrel means through said guide channel of said rotor into engagement with the other end portion of said mandrel means so that the filament will be formed into a coil on said other end portion during rotation of said rotor; and mechanical arresting means engaging said one end portion of said mandrel means for maintaining the latter stationarily during rotation of said rotor while permitting the filament to sweep over the peripheral surface of said one end portion of said mandrel means during rotation of said rotor.

2. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said one end portion of said mandrel means has a radius substantially equal to the radial distance between said axis of the rotor and the guide channel therethrough.

3. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said one end portion of said mandrel means isformed with a cutout extending from the peripheral surface of said end portion into the same, and wherein said arresting means comprises a star wheel rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said rotor, said star wheel having a plurality of substantially radially extending teeth having outer ends moving along a circular path and said cutout being in part defined by a surface portion coinciding with said path so that the teeth of said star wheel will engage said surface-portion to thus prevent said mandrel means from rotation about its axis.

4. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said cutout is in part defined by a part-cylindrical surface having an axis coinciding with the axis of said star wheel and a radius substantially equal to the distance between said axis and the outer ends of the teeth of said star wheel.

5. A coiling apparatus as defined'in claim 4, wherein the maximum depth of said cutout is smaller at least by a distance equal to the diameter of the filament than the whole depth of the teeth of the star wheel. l

6. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 4, and including a roller tumably mounted on a coaxial extension projecting from said one end portion of said mandrel means away from said rotor, said roller having a diameter at least equal to that of said one end portion of said mandrel means.

7. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said roller is in the form of an antifriction bearing.

8. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said one end portion of said mandrel means comprises a pair of diametrically opposite outer portions of nonmagnetic material, and a transversely extending magnetizable portion sand wiched between said outer portions, and including auxiliary arresting means comprising an electromagnet having a pair of pole shoes of opposite polarity respectively arranged opposite and closely adjacent to opposite ends of said transverse magnetizable portion.

9. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said other end portion of said mandrel means comprises a substantially conical portion having its maximum diameter adjacent said rotor and an elongated rod-shaped portion projecting along the axis of said rotor from said conical portion away from said rotor.

10. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said conical portion is provided between its ends with an annular groove and including a finger fixed to said rotor and extending with the free end thereof into said groove to engage a portion of a filament passing over the conical portion of said mandrel means.

11 A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said drive means comprises a driven shaft and transmission means between said driven shaft and said rotor, and including additional transmission means between said driven shaft and said star wheel for rotating the latter in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotor and with a speed correlated with the rotational speed of said rotor.

12. A coiling apparatus as definedm claim 11, wherein said transmission means between said shaft and said rotor comprises a pair of meshing gears respectively coaxially fixed to said shaft and to said rotor, and wherein said additional transmission means comprises a belt drive between said shaft and said star wheel.

13. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means comprise a pair of axially spaced antifriction bearings rotatably supporting said rotor, and including an additional pair of antifriction hearings in the interior of said rotor and supporting said mandrel means.

14. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said filament is formed from plastic material and including heating means for heating the coil wound on said rod-shaped portion of said mandrel means.

15. A coiling apparatus as definedin claim 14, wherein said heating means comprises a sleeve surrounding a part of said rod-shaped portion of said mandrel means with clearance and passage means communicating with the interior of said sleeve for feeding hot air into the latter. 

1. Coiling apparatus, especially for forming filaments into coils for the production of interlocking stringers in slide fasteners, said coiling apparatus comprising support means; a hollow rotor supported by said support means rotatable about its axis, said rotor being formed in the peripheral wall thereof with at least one guide channel therethrough extending substantially parallel to said axis radially displaced therefrom for guiding a filament in longitudinal direction therethrough; drive means cooperating with said rotor for rotating the same about its axis; mandrel means extending along said axis through and with opposite end portions thereof beyond opposite ends of said rotor, said mandrel means being supported in said rotor so that the latter and said mandrel means may turn relative to each other about said axis; means for guiding and feeding a filament over the peripheral surface of one of said end portions of said mandrel means through said guide channel of said rotor into engagement with the other end portion of said mandrel means so that the filament will be formed into a coil on said other end portion during rotation of said rotor; and mechanical arresting means engaging said one end portion of said mandrel means for maintaining the latter stationarily during rotation of said rotor while permitting the filament to sweep over the peripheral surface of said one end portion of said mandrel means during rotation of said rotor.
 2. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said one end portion of said mandrel means has a radius substantially equal to the radial distance between said axis of the rotor and the guide channel therethrough.
 3. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said one end portion of said mandrel means is formed with a cutout extending from the peripheral surface of said end portion into the same, and wherein said arresting means comprises a star wheel rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of said rotor, said star wheel having a plurality of substantially radially extending teeth having outer ends moving along a circular path and said cutout being in part defined by a surface portion coinciding with said path so that the teeth of said star wheel will engage said surface portion to thus prevent said mandrel means from rotation about its axis.
 4. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said cutout is in part defined by a part-cylindrical surface having an axis coinciding with the axis of said star wheel and a radius substantially equal to the distance between said axis and the outer ends of the teeth of said star wheel.
 5. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the maximum depth of said cuTout is smaller at least by a distance equal to the diameter of the filament than the whole depth of the teeth of the star wheel.
 6. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 4, and including a roller turnably mounted on a coaxial extension projecting from said one end portion of said mandrel means away from said rotor, said roller having a diameter at least equal to that of said one end portion of said mandrel means.
 7. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said roller is in the form of an antifriction bearing.
 8. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said one end portion of said mandrel means comprises a pair of diametrically opposite outer portions of nonmagnetic material, and a transversely extending magnetizable portion sandwiched between said outer portions, and including auxiliary arresting means comprising an electromagnet having a pair of pole shoes of opposite polarity respectively arranged opposite and closely adjacent to opposite ends of said transverse magnetizable portion.
 9. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said other end portion of said mandrel means comprises a substantially conical portion having its maximum diameter adjacent said rotor and an elongated rod-shaped portion projecting along the axis of said rotor from said conical portion away from said rotor.
 10. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said conical portion is provided between its ends with an annular groove and including a finger fixed to said rotor and extending with the free end thereof into said groove to engage a portion of a filament passing over the conical portion of said mandrel means. 11 A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said drive means comprises a driven shaft and transmission means between said driven shaft and said rotor, and including additional transmission means between said driven shaft and said star wheel for rotating the latter in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotor and with a speed correlated with the rotational speed of said rotor.
 12. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said transmission means between said shaft and said rotor comprises a pair of meshing gears respectively coaxially fixed to said shaft and to said rotor, and wherein said additional transmission means comprises a belt drive between said shaft and said star wheel.
 13. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support means comprise a pair of axially spaced antifriction bearings rotatably supporting said rotor, and including an additional pair of antifriction bearings in the interior of said rotor and supporting said mandrel means.
 14. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said filament is formed from plastic material and including heating means for heating the coil wound on said rod-shaped portion of said mandrel means.
 15. A coiling apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said heating means comprises a sleeve surrounding a part of said rod-shaped portion of said mandrel means with clearance and passage means communicating with the interior of said sleeve for feeding hot air into the latter. 